Collage for the International Collage Exchange 2009 by Leslie Avon Miller
Okay, I’m going to have to confess. I have a problem with choosing. Specifically choosing people. Because choosing some people in, means choosing some people out. It goes back to the 4th grade. Now, I have a healthy dislike of having objects flying towards my face at high rates of speed. Seems pretty logical to me. It’s a reflex action designed to avoid pain. So, when baseballs are thrown at me, I duck. I flinch. I even close my eyes. (In the scary parts of movies too.) So, I was never picked to play on somebody’s “side” in the school baseball games, right until next to last. (That other girl must have had an issue with baseballs too.) I was picked for lots of things; the school play, to be a friend, to sit with on the bus, but not for baseball. And it never felt good, even though I didn’t give a hoot about baseball. But I did care about being part of the group.
I just came across this quote: “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” That’s by Jane Howard, and I think she is right! And that is part of what goes on in the blog world. We connect on some level; liked mindedness, similar sense of humor, similar obsessions with art, or images, or words, but we connect.
Holly Friesen has a great blog of her art, and the motivation for her art at The Roaring Inside. I do recommend you look at her current work, and her explanation for it. Very powerful. And I am truly honored that she is giving me the PREMIO DARDOS award. “The prize is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.” And I am honored.
But my dilemma is that then I am supposed to pick 5 recipients on whom to bestow the award. And now I am back in 4th grade and I just can’t go there. So I am giving it to all of you. If you read this, you are an award winner in my eyes! Because I like you all, and I like our team. Just nobody throw a baseball my way, okay?
Very beautiful and inspiring work. I agree with what you say about the need to belong to something bigger than ourselves. For many artists this can be a difficult thing though as we are so scattered across the world. I agree that blogging helps though which is why I do it.
ReplyDeleteLoved the collage - but you pinched my title for a coming post, so gues I'll hae to rethink. The award thing is quite a problem. I have now decided to cut out of them, for several reasons. Best of luck with your decisions.
ReplyDeleteYour work is beautiful! I love the creamy neutrals contrasting with the grays and black and... very inspirational writing!
ReplyDeleteMe again Leslie!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure we'd all duck the baseball but much nicer not to have to!
And welcome to the Premio Dardos club!
LOL! first of all, congratulations on your award - so deserving - your blog is just wonderful......it is hard to choose in this wonderful community, I agree!
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie, another wonderful collage from you...
ReplyDeleteThose black brushstrokes are like a dance across the page :) a striking balance to the more evenly placed dots...
Congrats on a very well deserved award.
I too think it's wonderful to recieve one, but yes, hard to pass on...
yeah, awesome work. Especially like how you've left the soft color at the top,,,a perfect foil for the creamy rest.
ReplyDeleteMuch of your work is given an Asian feel with the strong black strokes. I'm wondering if that's intentional.
Yes, you said it exactly! I hate to choose because it also excludes. Congrats on your well deserved award. I love, love this collage and seeing the inspiration photograph alongside. The collage in the Her Studio Turned Red post is also awesome.......but then all of your pieces really talk to me. Not sure what language. It's a visceral thing.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, your collage is beautiful. My admiration!
ReplyDeleteYou have been tagget over at my blog. No obligation, it's up to you.
Leslie, Beautiful collage...I just love your lines, your markings!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award and I sure do understand about that choosing. The true confessions brought me back to my own childhood memories...some good, some not so good!
Once again, the sizes of these collages are ?
Leslie - I agree that what draws people to blogging is the need to connect to like minded people...and the amazing fact that one can meet so many from so far away...Congrats on the award - yours is truely one of the most inspiring, thought provoking blogs I read...
ReplyDeleteStriking piece. Is it collage?
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous piece, Leslie!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award.
I've always like the quote, "Just because someone throws you the ball doesn't mean you have to catch it!"
Phillip: Yes, I like the way we can connect through blogging. I appreciate your thoughts on art and life that I read at your blog.
ReplyDeleteDave: I think “True Confessions” must be in the general domain. So I am willing to share the title!
Marina: thank you. I have enjoyed seeing your work, and your trip to Spain posted on your blog.
Derrick: Nice to have a visit from you. No baseballs here!
Jeane: I regret that I was unable to attend your opening. I’ll be in your neck of the woods next week. I hope some of your work is still in the gallery then!
Jo H: While I have been away, I saw BBC TV and the devastating fires in your country. I have held you all in positive thought for the devastation to end.
Babs: Yes, I think there is an Asian feel, but I do try to make it my own version. I like the minimal esthetic.
Robyn: A visceral response is, I think, speaking intuition to intuition. Yes?
B & W: I see the tag, and will respond. I think that particular photo is of Kurt opening his new camera.
Mary Ann: I’ll try and remember to post the size of the collage pieces. These for the International Collage Exchange have been from 4 x 4 inches to 6 x 6 inches.
Oliag: Yes, like minded people are affirming. Thank you.
Poemhome: Yes these are all collage. I like papers that “melt” into the whole, and I use quite a bit of paint. I think they end up looking painterly.
Willow: Great quote! It reminds me that we are always “at choice.”
A visceral feeling...a gut feel...intuitive...yes.
ReplyDeleteAnd how affirming it is Robyn, when we connect at that level. Resonance.
ReplyDelete